John mills



(No Model.)

J. MILLS.

I MAT, No. 463,702; Patented N0v. 24, 1891.

WITNESSES: f Q'NVENTOH BY WW L? xi,

. ATTORNEY 8 NITED STATES PATENT- ()FFICE.

JOHN MILLS, OF NEIVARK, NEW JERSEY.

MAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,702, dated November 24, 1891.

Application filed March 28, 1891- Serial No. 386,866. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN MILLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, Essex county, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Door-Mats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The objectof this invention is to provide a mat for halls, stoops, cars, and other purposes adapted to be used upon either surface with interchangeable parts, simple in con-' struction, readily adjusted, and self-cleaning.

The invention consists of a mat constructed of independent slats made of wood or other material arranged parallel to each other and separated by a series of separate elastic strips or hands projecting above and below the wooden slats, said strips and slats being secured together by rods or bolts. It also consists in the combination and arrangement of the various parts thereof, substantially as hereinafter more fully described, and finally embodied in the claim. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures, Figure 1 is a plan view of the top and bottom of. amat embodying my improvement, both surfaces being the same when the mat is reversible. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line as, showing a series of elastic strips as secured to a slat. Fig. 3 is across-section on line 3 and Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line z.

In said drawings, a a represent slats made of wood or any desired material and arranged parallel with each other and their top and bottom surfaces preferably in the same plane, respectively. To the sides of the slats are secured by nails or tacks g or in any desired manner a series of separate elastic strips 19 5, arranged longitudinally and separated from each other by spaces or openings 0 0. These elastic strips are preferably rectangular and project a little beyond the surface of the slats onthe top and bottom, as shown at d (2. These slats with the elastic strips are then arranged in series or parallel rows, as many as required, according to the size of the mat, and the slats are secured in this position by bolts or rods 6 e passing through them, with nuts f f for tightening up said slats or permit of a slat being removed for readjustment or replacement of any elastic strip. These slats can be rectangular or rounded in cross-section, or of any form preferred.

Mats constructed according to my invention are not only reversible and adapted for use on either surface; but the lower surface of the mat when in position on a floor will prevent the mat from slipping by reason of the frictional bearings of the edges of the elastic strips, as will be manifest.

In muddy weather the shoe is cleaned without injury and the dirt or scrapings fall through the openings to the floor beneath, the mat therefore being self-cleaned. When not desired for use, the mat can be turned up on edge and laid away without occupying much space. The elastic strips can be made of equal or varying lengths, as may be preferred.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As anew article of manufacture, a reversible mat consisting of slats with series of separate elastic strips secured to said slats and projecting above and below the surface of said slats, said slats and strips being secured together by bolts or rods, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of March, 1891.

JOHN MILLS.

Witnesses:

E. L. SHERMAN, JOSEPH A. ENos. 

